He Sketched Her ~ IV (flash fiction)

On By Michele LeeIn flash fiction, love, nature, Poetic Prose

Time may have erased his photographic memory, but it did not temper his punctuality. Garreth arrived twenty minutes before the full moon’s expected appearance. He was relieved to find the ten-year-old bench near Pier 33 empty. He had spent the day considering what he might say if he found their favorite resting place occupied with two others, intwined. Surely, young lovers would offer their seat to an old man with a story to share. A story that would send their pulsing hearts into the realm of romantic legend. The rehearsed script that had occupied Garreth’s mind would remain unsaid. A shame, he thought.

The charcoal pencil shook in Garreth’s hand as he began to draw the crest of the rising moon. His once swift hand now challenged by the pace of the moon’s ascent. His eyes were slower to move and saw less detail than when he first began sketching the full moon, but they understood so much more.

With his drawing done and his bones threatening to turn him into a statue, it was time to head home.

*******

Before opening his eyes, his hand reached for her. He would never stop reaching for her. A cruel trick his morning mind played on him.

Breakfast for one, done, showered, and dressed Garreth rolled then tucked last night’s moon sketch into his inside coat pocket, before setting out on his morning walk. His daily routine that gave him exercise and purpose was becoming increasingly more difficult.

*******

Mani is outside, by her favorite tree, Nurse Renee told Garreth.

Thank you, he said while handing her a flower he had picked along the way.

You sure are a charmer, she said while taking the wilting daisy from his hand.

He replied with a smile. The flower was for Renee; his smile was for him.

He paused on the sidewalk when he saw her. In a flowing white dress near a busy bird feeder, there she was – slowly swaying her arms, left, right, left, right… a conductor of the Songbirds, she was. He closed his eyes and saw her, once again, laughing and dancing on a sidewalk in Rome.

He wiped his eyes with the handkerchief he found under his rolled sketch. The monogram now faded; the handkerchief was a birthday gift she had given him a few years prior. As a joke, she told him. Old men need a handkerchief in their pocket, for the unexpected and startling sneeze, she said.

The moon’s full face no longer danced in his dreams like it once did, but she still does – the woman who captured his heart with her sparkling eyes and firm handshake. The woman who became his bride, during a most sparkly night, forty-four full moons after their first encounter. Just the two of them and one friend turned ordained minister, near the same tree where they first shook hands. Just the two of them starting a restaurant after her discovery of falling in love with cooking. She managed the kitchen and staff, the children the two of them never had. He charmed customers and decorated the walls with his moon art. They were something, the two of them. They sold the restaurant five years before her diagnosis, to travel the world, the two of them.   

Hi, she said to the stranger. Who are you?

I am the love of your life. Happy Anniversary, darling, he said as he gently took her hand before handing her his last moon sketch.  

Thank you so very much for reading my fourth and final episode of “He Sketched Her.” It has been an absolute delight spending time with these characters and letting this story unfold over the course of four months. A meaningful writing experience, enriched by the mystical moon. I had a different ending in mind, until my Friday morning yoga class stretched my thoughts in a different direction. Stretching is good for the body and brain. ✨

Wishing you and yours a joyful and peaceful weekend. Be well. 🕊️ Michele

If you missed any or all of the first three episodes, here you go:

He Sketched Her ~ I

He Sketched Her ~ II

He Sketched Her ~ III

Review of character names:

Mani – “moon personified” (Norse mythology)

Garreth – gentle, modest, and brave (Arthurian Legend)

Featured photo: by Trybex Moon photos: my images, taken of April’s “Pink Full Moon”

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

83 thoughts on “He Sketched Her ~ IV (flash fiction)”

  5. This is a heartwarming story, Michele Lee. I’m sure it comes from a holy place. The one that sees the world with childlike aww.
    Old age has a lot to teach us.
    Your writing is magnificent. So glad I caught this one.
    I remember a while back I read the one where a woman was out asking about a certain artist. Was Garret that artist? And was the young woman the one who aged in this story? A whole lifetime. Wow.
    Thanks for sharing. Blessing you.

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    1. Beautifully understood and expressed. Thank you, Selma. I am grateful. 🙏🏻 You are correct, yes… Garreth is the artist and Mani is the woman who aged. I gave them names in the third episode. A lifetime, well-lived, yes. I am going to miss these characters! 💞 My pleasure. Blessings to you and yours.

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  10. What a wonderful love story between the sketch man and the woman 💕👍🏻finally want to skech moon and came the same place 😍 , his heart full of love for her and the beautiful woman finally his bride and their great love life Anniversary he did the full moon 🌕 sketches and gave her Happy Anniversary present 💝 The love will never leave and it will never end ♥️👌👏 So touching story lines you dear is Great Author ✍️ perfectly gave super lovely end 😊♥️grace wishes and Happy Easter 🐣 my dear friend 🥰💝👏

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    1. You are going to make me cry all over again. 😆 I am grateful for all of it! Thank you, kind and sweet Thattamma, for your beautiful and thoughtful connection and comments. 🙏🏻 Have a wonderful weekend! 🌇💖🐰

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    1. Your generosity and support of my work are greatly appreciated. Thank you, Natalie. This final episode left me a crying mess. 😆 A beautiful experience. I will carry these two in my heart. 💗

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    1. Yassy, just found your comment in spam. Annoying when that happens! I am so glad I thought to look. Thank you, for your mighty fine feedback. I love learning that. 🙏🏻💗 The entire project has been a rich and delightful experience and these characters captured my heart. ✨ Wishing you a good week ahead!

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    1. Thank you, Tom! Really appreciate you reading through the episodes. I am glad you enjoyed reading through. 🙏🏻 A wonderful writing process for me. Sure tugged my heartstrings too. 💗 I am done with that series but there are always more stories to write, right? 😁

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    1. Beautifully said. 😊 It was a lovely writing experience that left me sad and emotional, too. Making myself cry Friday evening. That’s supposed to be Happy Hour time not crying time. 😆 All good! Thank you. Hope you’ve had a special Sunday!

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    1. I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading on your Easter Sunday. The handkerchief… I don’t know where this stuff comes from. 😆 I start writing and the story details show up. Fun! Enjoy your evening.

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  24. Wow dear Doll, this story has flowed like a streaming river so cool with never endning love. As usual it never allowed to distract readers from the deep involvement of curiosity wanting to read more and more. Just excellent 🧡❤💛💙🤗🥰

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    1. Thank you for reading, Samantha! That ending… I rarely know how I am going to end stories (or poems); I just know when I get there. That felt right or maybe I was crying too much to continue. 💗 I am grateful for your time and descriptions. 🙏🏻

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    1. Alzheimer’s is terribly sad, but there is something very sweet about that visual. Thank you for acknowledging that sentence. 💗 About your art… if all goes as planned, I will be sharing your art on my post tomorrow. 🌵😁

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    1. Thanks so much, Bridgette. I really enjoyed immersing myself in those characters and that storyline. I had no idea where it would take me when I began writing the first few lines of the first one. What a beautiful writing experience for me. 💗 Note: The author I work with will be sending you a book. Is the second part of your email, your last name? (for mailing purposes)

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    1. I had a blast writing that evolving story and losing myself in the monthly full moon. 💞 Was hard to wrap that one up, but the characters let me know – it was time. Thank you for reading, Layla! 😊 Enjoy your weekend! 🌞

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